TV channels & antenna towers in Petersburg, Illinois

Petersburg has 23 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W31EH-D, 17 miles to the SE.

Open Petersburg in the live finder

23TV transmitters within 70 miles

7networks over the air

17 mito the closest tower

2,190population

Network channels in Petersburg

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCWICSABC	20	25 mi	125° SE	Good	Springfield, IL
FOXWRSP-TVFox	55	25 mi	125° SE	Good	Springfield, IL
IONWCQA-LDION	16.4	36 mi	94° E	Poor	Springfield, IL
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	46 mi	20° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	46 mi	20° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	46 mi	21° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
CWWBUICW	23	54 mi	94° E	Good	Decatur, IL
NBCWANDNBC	17	54 mi	94° E	Good	Decatur, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	56 mi	39° NE	Fair	Bloomington, IL

Over-the-air TV in Petersburg

Petersburg, Illinois has a population of about 2,190. Our map shows 23 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 13 full-power, 9 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

5 of them are within 25 miles of Petersburg, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 9 network stations in range are licensed to Springfield, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Springfield's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 20 (WICS), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 17 (WAND), Fox on channel 55 (WRSP-TV), CW on channel 25.3 (WEEK-TV), ION on channel 16.4 (WCQA-LD) and MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI). 5 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Petersburg

Point your antenna SE, at about 125°. The main network towers for Petersburg sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Two network stations, WICS and WRSP-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 25 miles southeast of Petersburg (125° SE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Petersburg at fair strength or better, 38% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across three other directions.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Petersburg, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Petersburg

The farthest main network tower for Petersburg is WRSP-TV (Fox), 25 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WMBD-TV (CBS), 46 miles north and WAND (NBC), 54 miles east, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for those.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Petersburg

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W31EH-DLow power	17 mi	139° SE	Poor	Springfield, IL
W27ES-DLow power	17 mi	139° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
WEAE-LDLow power	21 mi	141° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
WCIXFull power	23 mi	131° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
W23EW-DLow power	25 mi	137° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
W19EE-DLow power	27 mi	223° SW	Weak	Jacksonville, IL
WSECFull power	30 mi	200° SSW	Good	Jacksonville, IL
W29ES-DTranslator	30 mi	200° SSW	Fair	Jacksonville, IL
WTVPFull power	45 mi	19° NNE	Fair	Peoria, IL
W27EQ-DLow power	46 mi	25° NNE	Poor	Peoria, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	51 mi	10° N	Poor	Peoria, IL
WLCF-LDLow power	52 mi	94° E	Poor	Decatur, IL
WMECFull power	54 mi	300° WNW	Poor	Macomb, IL
WILL-TVFull power	62 mi	88° E	Weak	Urbana, IL

How Petersburg compares with the rest of Illinois

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Petersburg ranks 403rd of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 25 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

54% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Springfield, 18 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Petersburg: step by step

Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
Point it toward 125° SE, the direction of WRSP-TV (Fox), 25 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 15 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Petersburg, IL?

ABC is on channel 20 from WICS, broadcasting from 25 miles SE of Petersburg. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Petersburg, IL?

CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 46 miles NNE of Petersburg. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Petersburg, IL?

NBC is on channel 17 from WAND, broadcasting from 54 miles E of Petersburg. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Petersburg, IL?

Fox is on channel 55 from WRSP-TV, broadcasting from 25 miles SE of Petersburg. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Petersburg, IL?

CW is on channel 25.3 from WEEK-TV, broadcasting from 46 miles NNE of Petersburg. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Petersburg?

23 transmitters within 70 miles of Petersburg; around 15 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Petersburg?

Point your antenna SE, at about 125°. The main network towers for Petersburg sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Petersburg?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. Picking up CBS and NBC from up to 54 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Petersburg?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Petersburg?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Illinois cities

More: all TV stations in Illinois · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Petersburg; signal estimates ignore terrain.